1989 fleetwood Econoline 350 fuel leak

Hi,

Just a guess, because I don't know your model year or anything else about it, but some E-350's came with two fuel tanks, others just a forward tank, or rear tank. It might be a connector where the front/rear switchover relay is installed on some of the vans, and this short piece on the rest of the vans.

It also looks similar to the fuel filter clips on my motorhome (1997 F-53) but my fuel filter is much longer than that clip.

To remove the fuel filter, I needed a spring release kit. You can buy a set of 6 clip removers (various sizes) in plastic at the local auto parts store for about $12.

Fred.

That vintage used a clip in the quick-disconnect coupling. No special tool. The clip is somewhat like the plastic safety "plugs" we stick in wall sockets to keep kids from sticking metal things in. There's a little barb on each plastic leg of the clip to keep it from backing out of that black plastic fitting.
It's possible to put a used clip, barbs missing, then hold it in place with a Zip Tie. I don't think trying to use Zip Ties without a Clip will set the connection up correctly.
A new fuel filter usually comes with Clips. A "Help" display at an auto supply might have them. Could be worth buying a filter. If I can find the picture of one I'll post it.

Both Filters have an early model Clip on the left end. The two prongs are over the tubing into the filters. Notice how one side of the head of the clip has a triangular protrusion.
The tool on the right, connecting the two filters, is for the "garter spring" quick disconnect on later year Fords.

Thanks so much! Can I buy the fuel filter at a advance auto or do I need to go to a dealer. The way they have this tied together, I am sure I will need new clips.

Any auto supply will have the fuel filters, and maybe the clips in their HELP lineup. HELP is a display of little oddball pieces like clips for door handles, door trim, lamp sockets, up to a square yard of facings somewhere in the shelves. Our local Advance has filters and the HELP stuff, I just don't know if there's clips. A shop might have some used ones laying around. They can be removed carefully and the barbs not damaged, but you can use with zero barb left if you secure them from getting "unplugged."

Go to Amazon and search 2947315. The hit will include Ford part numbers and show a good picture. You can just see the barb on the pin to the right.

Here it is.

Okay, So here are some more pics. Looks like both the fuel pump and Filter are in place, basically under the driver seat part of the frame. It looks like they bypassed this one device and tied the lines together, or tried to tie them together. So, what is this thing they bypassed?



you can see in this picture, two nipples that the lines were pulled from and tied together in my original post

OOPS! If the Zip Tie photo is of two quick disconnects plugged together with just a piece of tubing, I don't think those Clips will help. There's a raised ring on the fuel filters that the Clip holds in place against a sealing surface.

Is this a two-tank chassis, and do both work? Our '83 E350 was carbureted, two tank, did use those connectors, but had a Tank Select Valve just behind the driver's door on the chassis rail. It was a Six-Port valve, because each tank and the carburetor had a return line as well as a supply line. So Two "in" (actually a Supply and a Return) from each Tank made Four Ports, and the lines going to the engine made two more Ports, for Six. Last I looked, new aftermarket Six-Port Valves were available for around $100.

Only a single tank. The side in the picture is the side from the tank.

It looks like the fuel tank selector valve must not work, so they bypassed it using a piece of tubing. If you want, you can either troubleshoot the dual tank system to fix it, or keep the bypass in place. You can buy another inline fuel filter to put in place of the tubing. It will have the correct connectors on it for the hoses. You should not need a tool to remove the hoses from the tubing being used as a bypass connector.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-Ford-Fuel-Reservoir-1987-1989-F-Series-1987-1991-Econoline-All-EFI-/261138730277

And the last photo shows the "Clip" and the Raised Area on the line that the Quick Disconnect gets clipped onto.

If our '83 had one of those Fuel Reservoir things, I don't remember it. The application list on eBay didn't include '83 so I guess it ran without one but Ford thought it'd be a good idea later.